The Captain came on the PA with our usual information but added a special bonus to his talk. Rather than coming into Osaka on the morning of the 24th, we are now able to sail in and tie up at about 3:30pm on the 23rd. This is wonderful welcoming news especially for us as we have a whole day in Kyoto planned and now this gives us a chance to explore a bit of the incredible city of Osaka.
Our information reads, Osaka is a large port city and commercial centre on the Japanese island of Honshu. It's known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It's surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.
For us, our Trivia team decided it was time to go out and get ourselves some Kobe steak in one of the top rated restaurants in Osaka, Steak Sakura Osaka, Shochikuza Honden. So off we go on two cabs and 20 minutes later we found ourselves in the hustling and bustling downtown core of Osaka. This part of the city of 8 million people is like Times Square on steroids, fantastically crazy but in a great vibe scents. Dinner was absolutely delicious, we opted for the premium cut of the Kobe Steak that literally just melted in your mouth. Expensive yes, worth it, absolutely. We got back to the ship in time for a fantastic performance by a local group. Yes, we are loving Japan.
A few pics of the night, hope you enjoy…
Gérard the letters color on the dark background make it difficult to read. Michel
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